WordGarden.iograter
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡrˈeɪtə/
US
- /ˈɡreɪtər/
Meanings
Noun
a kitchen tool used to shred food into small pieces
Beyond the definition
A grater is a handy kitchen tool with many small sharp holes or edges that help you shred food into tiny pieces. People often use it for cheese, lemon peel, ginger, garlic, chocolate, or nutmeg. It is simple, useful, and common in everyday cooking. You might say, "She used a fine grater for the nutmeg," or "Grab the box grater for the cheese."
A grater is a kitchen utensil used to cut food into very small pieces by rubbing it against a rough, sharp surface. It usually has metal sides or blades with raised holes, and each type of hole makes a different result. Large holes are good for cheese or vegetables, while small holes work well for foods like nutmeg, garlic, ginger, or citrus peel.
There are several common kinds. A box grater has different sides for different sizes and is useful when you need more than one texture. A flat hand grater is easy to store and good for simple jobs. A microplane-style grater is often used for fine zest or very small shavings. In cooking, people might say, "He carefully grated the ginger into the sauce," or "Use the fine side of the grater for the cheese."
The word comes from the verb "to grate," which means to rub something against a rough surface so that small pieces come off. In this card, though, "grater" refers to the tool itself, not to the figurative use of the verb. Overall, it is a practical kitchen item that helps prepare ingredients quickly and in the texture a recipe needs.
Examples
- 1
Kitchen request
Can you pass me the cheese grater?
- Phrasecheese grater
the kitchen tool people often simply call a grater
- 2
Food prep
Use the coarse side of the box grater for the carrots.
- Phrasebox grater
a grater with several sides
- 3
Kitchen injury
I scraped my knuckle on the grater while making the salad.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- graternoun
Forms
- graterspluralnoun